Nostalgic memories of Bristol's local history
Share your own memories of Bristol and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 51 - 60 of 82 in total
St John's Gate in Broad Street in Bristol is the only surviving medieval city gateway, at one one time there were seven gates into the old city. Fortified gateways pierced the town wall at intervals. St John's Gateway, originally one of these, is the only Bristol one to survive. Portcullis channels are still visible within the arch. Queen Elizabeth I rode through here on entering the city in 1574.
St ...see more
Eastville Park swimming pool was built in 1905, and the lake in 1909, with the present boathouse dating from 1925. Since then, local road building has resulted in the loss of the original boundaries of the park and its walls, gates and drinking fountain. The swimming pool was turned into a community garden in in the early 1980s and the bowling greens, though nearly 100 years old, are still very popular. Original Victorian drinking fountain and toilets remain.
Bristol's great heritage started from humble beginnings. An Anglo-Saxon settlement by the name of Brigstowe steadily grew into a thriving port. After the Norman invasion of 1066, a castle was built in what is now known as Castle Park. The port continued to flourish and Bristol became one of England's principal ports. John Cabot sailed from Bristol aboard the 'Matthew in 1497, a voyage that led to him discovering ...see more
Christmas Street, Lewins Mead.
Christmas Street was originally Knyfesmyth Street. When the knifesmiths moved away and anyway tended to be known as cutlers instead, the word gradually got corrupted and changed into something a little more familiar to people of a later time. So the stepped Queen Street by association became Christmas Steps.
St Peter's Hospital was one of Bristol's finest and most historic buildings, which had been home to pirates and an alchemist as well as a mint and a workhouse among many other uses. It was destroyed in the blitz 1941.
This photograph shows St Peter's Hospital in Peter Street, where the Register Office occupied part of the ground floor. The building on the left is St Peter's Church (c1930). This ...see more
A list of just some streets which have disappeared or changed their names since 1900.
Barr's Street (Lane until 1848) - Milk Street to St James's Barton - demolished and built over post-war for Broadmead Shopping Centre.
Barton Alley - widened in 1860s and became Bond Street.
Carey's Lane - Old Market Street to Ropewalk - demolished for underpass and roundabout.
Castle Mill Street - Merchant ...see more
Bristol Tramway Company and the glory days of the tram:
After the First World War the Omnibus Company changed its name from Bristol Tramways to the Bristol Omnibus Company/ In 1937 it was forced to keep using their very old transport fleet until replacements could be built. In 1949-50 over 200 vehicles were scrapped at the Kingswood depot.
In 1936 Bristol Corporation took an interest in the bus company ...see more
It is ironic that these massive buildings that dominate the ridge at Ashley Down were known for generations as the Muller Homes. Their founder, German immigrant George Muller, was insistent on the title 'The New Orphan House' as he did not want his name to be prominent, for he considered himself merely an instrument in the venture. In fact, in his youth he must have seemed an unlikely candidate for such benevolent ...see more
'Cash on the Nail' the man said. . . and a century or so ago in Bristol he really meant it. For the deal would have been clinched on one of Bristol's four famous nails standing outside the Corn Exchange on Corn Street or, from the late 1550s to 1771, under a covered walk outside All Saints Church before they were moved to today's well-known site.
The brass nails with their flat tops and raised edges to prevent ...see more
Queen Elizabeth I granted housewives the right to dry their washing on Bristol's Brandon Hill.
Bristol's most prominent land mark, the Cabot Tower, was 100 years old in 1998. But the official opening was marked by a disastrous fire, a confidence trick and some rather clever council penny pinching. The foundation stone of the Cabot Tower was laid on Brandon Hill in 1897, the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's ...see more
